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The Silent One


Who died on the wires, and hung there, one of two  -
Who for his hours of life had chattered through
Infinite lovely chatter of Bucks accent:
Yet faced unbroken wires; stepped over, and went
A noble fool, faithful to his stripes  - and ended.
But I weak, hungry, and willing only for the chance
Of line- to fight in the line, lay down under unbroken
Wires, and saw the flashes and kept unshaken,
Till the politest voice - a finicking accent, said:
‘Do you think you might crawl through there: there's a hole.'
Darkness shot at: I smiled, as politely replied –
‘I'm afraid not, Sir.' There was no hole, no way to be seen
Nothing but chance of death, after tearing of clothes.
Kept flat, and watched the darkness, hearing bullets whizzing –
And thought of music - and swore deep heart's oaths
(Polite to God) and retreated and came on again,
Again retreated a second time, faced the screen.

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Comments


  • November 12
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    From guest vanessa (contact)
    the politest voice is an commander


  • September 19
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    Great

    From guest Annabel (contact)
    The feel of this poem is truly breath taking and the reality of it is sickening. Amazing writing!


  • June 4
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    From guest brandon (contact)
    is this a free verse?


  • March 19
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    From guest lupe (contact)
    who is "the politest voice" ?


    • rufina caraid Moderators member
      March 20
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      for Lupe

      "the politest voice" - could be another soldier behind him wanting to get through underneath the wire or as I feel it is his conscience speaking to him. A third option is that it is the spirit of the Solider with the ‘Bucks’* accent, urging him to do his duty.
      *Buckinghamshire UK

      I hope this helps,
      Von ~ Oldpoetry Team


  • October 13, 2005
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    it's about the obsession of cutting the enemey's barbed wire to get through and kill them, he keeps trying and failing (not giving up)it's a bit of a suicidal mission due to the outnumbering (jumping on your own into the enemey's trench)!


  • November 30, 2004
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    can you please explain to me what this poem means and what does and thought of music- and swore deep hearts deep oaths (polite to God) and retreted and came on again....